Interchangeable setting



Feb. 7, 1956 D. PFEFFER ETAL INTERCHANGEABLE SETTING Filed FeB. 1, 1954 INVENTORJ D4 #10 PFEFFEK n'mx PFsFFse BY ..!7?'0XWA"F United States,

' INTERCHANGEABLE SETTING David Pfelfer, Bronx, and Max Pfeffer,

West Hempstead, N. Y.

, Application February 1, 1954, Serial No. 407,213

1 Claim. 01. 6329) This invention relates generally to interchangeable setting and positive locking of stones, diamonds and other decorative elements within a mounting disposed on a finger ring, pin, earrings, cuff-links, pendants and the like, but more specific ally to a novel means and a novel method of setting and locking such ornamental and interchangeable elements in a manner which is easy of execution by the owner and by a retailer.

The main object of the invention resides in the facility, permanent locking and rigidity of setting gems of various thicknesses and conformations, artificial and synthetic, in a mounting for harmonious relationship, the said gems being easily disengageable for replacement in the same mounting of different ornamental pieces.

Heretofore jewelry retail establishments had to carry large inventories to show their wares, but by virtue of the invention herein, the same rings, cuff-links, pendants, earrings or other objects incorporating a mounting are used for displaying various stones, such as birth stones, gems and ornaments which have a particular season or a design motif in keeping with a current trend.

A further object of the invention resides in the accessibility and concealment of the means for setting and locking and disengaging the ornamental pieces in a mounting for interchangeability.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for setting and locking a stone, diamond or other precious or other semi-precious ornaments safely within a mountingwhereby the combination is permanent if desired and whereby the same mounting is reusable with another type of ornament by removing the first and reintroducing the second or any other one.

Another object of the invention resides in the ease of setting and locking the ornament on a mounting which is conventional or fanciful, said mounting requiring only the additional use of one or more bushings for the operation of concealed set screws or equivalents.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claim.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing preferred forms of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a finger ring having a stone, gem or other ornament set in a mounting in accordance with the invention herein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 1 across the plane 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in elevation showing the device of Figure 1 with a corner type of retention means on the ring mounting.

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the ornament with a flat top face and a fiat bottom face.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional and fragmentary view of a modified embodiment of finger ring wherein the locking screws are disposed inside of the terminals of the ring portion.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferred forms shown in the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a piece of jewelry such as, a'fingerring having a mounting thereon for purposes of replaceable setting of a gem, ornament, precious and semi-precious stones, and the like. Thus, a partial ring element 10 is provided having a conventional mounting frame of any desired shape and indicated generally by numeral 11 secured in the conventional manner to the ring terminals. As specifically shown, the mounting frame consists ofa rectangular peripheral wall the sides of which are each indicated by numeral 12.

An ornament such 'as a faceted stone or diamond 13 is adapted to be replaceably set in the mounting frame 11 in accordance with the invention herein. For this purpose, Figures 1 and 2 show an upper peripheral flange or bezel 14 serving as a top limit for ornament 13. It is to be noted that element 13 engages the inner edge of bezel 14 at suitable facets. Ornament, insert or diamond 13 is adapted to be introduced into the mounting frame 11 from below as may be seen by reference to Figure 2. For this purpose, the dimensions of the frame 11 are somewhat smaller than the dimensions of the insert. It is understood that the mounting frame 11 instead of being rectangular as shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be of any other geometric shape to conform with the shape of the insert.

On opposite faces 12 of the mounting frame 11 are shown a pair of inclined housings formed therewith, each being indicated by numerals 15 and 16, said housings being internally threaded and being inclined toward one another in an upward direction and being adapted to receive screws 17 and 18 respectively for purposes of locking the insert 13 against the bezel 14 for permanent setting purposes. Screws 17 and 18 are adapted to impinge against suitable facets of the insert as shown in Figure 2 for tight and secure setting against the bezel 14. Thus, it is seen that by merely loosening the screws 17 and 18, the insert 13 may be removed from below and another insert reintroduced for replacement purposes.

In Figure 3 there is shown a similar type of mounting frame as in Figures 1 and 2 except that the bezel member consists of corner angles each indicated by numeral 20 to serve as a substitute for the bezel flange 14.

Figure 4 shows the same type of setting construction as in Figures 1-2, except that a flat type of insert indicated by numeral 19 is used.

In Figure 5 is shown a finger ring element wherein a pair of housings, one of which is indicated by numeral 21, are disposed on the inside of the ring terminals and concealed from view. Screws, such as 22 are adapted to be threadedly engaged in each housing for purposes of setting in insert 23 against a bezel flange 24 in the mounting frame.

It is to be observed that by the use of inclined adjustable members such as levers or screws 17 and 18, the insert, whether it is a gem, stone, ornament or the like is fixedly maintained in place and is provided with permanence just so long as the screws are tightened against a wall of the insert for locking against the bezel frame. By the use of inclined screws as shown, the insert is held in place by vertical and horizontal forces.

Thus has been described structure and a method for the replaceable setting of stones, ornaments, gems and all type of inserts for jewelry pieces including finger rings solely by the use of a jewelers screw driver or of a nail file or ordinary pen-knife. The setting and replaceability of inserts is simple. No directions are needed and the appearance of the jewelry piece is not burdened with distracting attachments. Any user, child, person and housewife is able to have different pieces of jewelry by the expedient of replacing inserts safely and efiiciently.

; Fatented Feb. 7, 195,6;

Moreover for" display purposes it is unnecessary to carry too fllargeranr inventory. It-has been-fliepraetice-to utilize as many rings as there were inserts and even travelling salesmen find this burdensome.

*Wewish" ir-nnaersteed that minorchanges and yariatiori'sin therlo'cation; marefialgsizeg niape irefafins'hiir? of'partsmay all be resorted td witheiit deiiar'ting rem the spiritxef the invent ion' and flte seep-e 6: *the' aiipn '5 'f w ll. 135K; Y1, 51' .1- x! We claim". r

A mounting and setting for an ornament in a finger ring or' other article ofje'iwelry, comprising '-a mounting frame having inwardly emmmg fla nge maas eonstitirt ing a bezel member; ari ornariient fit ting in meet frame intnocluc'ible from "below "the" and 11g portions positioned against the'nnderside of "Said lmemberps'aid frame having-inwardly and npwardly extending internally threaded openings in opposite walls thereof and screw threaded rods in said openings and having their upper ends engaging the underside of said ornament and being entirely concealed within said mounting for lock-tight fixing of said ornament against the underside of said bezel member and for replacement of the ornament in the said mounti g frame.

er n es Cited i he ifi e of. this pate UNITED STATES .PATENTS' 

